Verizon’s Fiber Loop Dreams

“How about those Red Sox?” Verizon’s Paul Lacouture. Maybe by 2006, Verizon’s VOD will allow you to watch the game again. (via DSL Prime)

Following closely on the heels of SBC’s LightSpeed announcement, Verizon announced accelerated plans for FTTH deployment. On October 21, it added more markets [in addition to the areas previously disclosed (in Texas, Florida and California)] in Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Westchester, Rockland, and Nassau counties in New York, Pennsylvania and Northern Delaware. Verizon is guessing that it would have one million homes passed this year and another 2 million homes passed next year. In a conference call, the company said that engineering is complete, construction is underway and deployment is on schedule. In addition, Verizon will use this new platform to go after video customers beginning in 2005. More deployments will likely be announced in 2005.” Plans include a 5Mbps download/2Mbps upload product for $34.95 in the bundle and $39.95 standalone; and a 15Mbps download/2Mbps upload product for $44.95 in the bundle and $49.95 standalone. The company is pretty serious about its VoD service as well, expected to hit the market next year.